Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-09-16
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
,plar Correspondence of the Standard.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9. 1887.


Republican party has another rabid
attack of the bloody-shirt, and that
the ferocious Foraker is its fit type
and prophet. Witness his disgraceful
and outrageous conduct in Wheeling
last week, where he raved like a mad
man and strutted around like a street.
bully, daring anybody to knock a
chip off his shoulder. The West Vir-
ginia Governor gave the Ohio nuisance
the right sort of response to his wild
rawlings, but, still, to see the Cover
nors of two neighboring States en-
gagged in & wordy wrangle on the bal
cony of hotel, while thousands of
angry and excited men throngcd the
street, was most unseemly demon
stration. But the crowning outrage
and indignity was the trailing of the
United States flag in the dust by the
Grand Army men and their spurning
the picture of the Presidant of the
United States. Ii this was not COM
bination act of treason equal to firing
on the old flag at Fort Sumpter in
1860, then confess myself vastly
mistaken. The truth of the matter is,
that if Uncle Sans G. A. r. boys
good at rudeness boys-do not behave
themselves better, he will have to give
them sound spanking and send them
supperless to bed.
The army paymasters have been
transacting their business in very
loose manner-some of them have not
settled their accounts in four or five
years-and it is highly probable that
the investigation of their accounts,
which has now been ordered by the
Second Controller of the Treasury,
will uncover many discrepancies
Enough is already known to warrant
the statement that many of the pay
masters, whose bonds expired in 1888
and 1884 and earlier years, arc short in
accounts with the Government. The
responsibility for this state of affairs
lies not SO much with the paymasters
themselves as with the accounting
officials of the Republican regime.
Speaker Carlisle's presence in the
city always attracts II large measure
of public attention, and much COM
ment is INDUCED in as to whether or
not some important political move is
on the tapis, when he visits the city at
such an unreasonable time; but the
distinguished statesman emphatically
disclaims any such purpose and posi-
lively declares his ignorance of the So
called Democratic conference to
which the press has given such wide
publicity, stating that he is only here
to look after the affairs of his constit-
uents before the different depart
ments.
Senator Butler, of South Carolin",
has become a jealous convert to rail-
road supervision through a shaking
up that he received in u recent wreck
on a Virginia road, and he announces
that he will offer an amendment to
the law, looking to the protection of
passengers and providing reasonable
hours of work for the trainmen.
Senator Cockrell is in the city, and
the committee of which he is chair
man, is awaiting the completion OF
the reports of the chiefs of the several
bureaus as to the methods of conduct
ing business in the different depart
ments, in response to resolution OF
the last Congress. These reports are
Very voluminous, and if the committee
read and inwardly digest them it will
be long and laborious task. The re-
ports will be especially useful for re-
ference, in showing how the vast and
varied business of the great Govern
ment is conducted and will be an in.
teresting study as well; though
opine, the covert purpose of the Sen
atorial investigation was to manufac'
ture little political capital in behalf
of the Republicans.
President Cleveland expresses his
intention to spend the next few weeks
quietly as his vacation time, at Oal
View, and he will not feel under Oh
legations to come to the White House
| except on public business that de
mands his attention.
The few Democratic clerks in the
War Department complain that there
is a Republican ring in the Office
which so manipulates the civil-service
examination that no Democrat has
chance of promotion. 1t is said tina
not one has been promoted there.
Acting Secretary Mildrow has hon
ored the profession OF journalism b!
promoting to the Acting Chief Clerl
of the Interior Department, Maj. 5. NJ
Jonas, for twenty-three years edito
of the Aberdeen, Miss, Examiner
and for some years confidential cleri
of Secretary Lamar. Maj. Jonas, viii
| bring to his new position the same de
votion TO duty and earnestness that
won for him such distinction in news
paper work, and few men in the Gov
ernment service are better equipped TO
the place. The employees OF the ofhc'
express the hope that his temporo1!
l III ho ~, odo normanent